April 13 & 14, 2009 - Varanasi, India
Been travelin'! ... I left Pokhara yesterday at 6:30 a.m. in a "tourist" bus. The first 15 minutes the bus only had eight riders - all foreigners - so it looked good. But 15 minutes out we started picking up anyone going anywhere it seemed. It was a 93-mile trip --- it only took 7-1/2 hours, and 5 hours of it was on horrifyingly scary roads. The roads were bad - bumpy and a lot of dirt/dust, but the cliffs were like none I have seen so far! It was definitely a change in temperature when we hit the plains, but - oh man - what a relief!! CLIFFS - I mean like 2 feet from the bus tires!!!
I hope to stay mostly on trains from now on - or maybe on flat land.
Another little surprise - the "tourist" bus was to take us all the way to the India border and not stop at the town before the border like all the "public" buses do. ..Well, you guessed it - we stopped at the town before, engine shut off , driver out and gone, and I then had a bicycle rickshaw ride to the border on the hot dusty road.... ( a little more "color and quaintness" than I wanted at the time!!!)
Had no problem at the Nepali border, then walked two or three hundred yards to the Indian border - no problems - then to bus station, and a 75 rupee ($1.50 ) 2-1/2 hour bus ride to train station.
At the station I was able to get a night sleeper to Varinasi at 10:45 p.m. It was 5:45 by now. I met some other travelers doing the same thing, so we all went to a local train station restaurant across the street and got supper. They only had two choices, both typical blue plate specials, but it was good and restful.
I had forgotten HOW MANY people are in India - crowds - everywhere .... and how dirty!
Got on my train about 9:30. It was an air-conditioned sleeper - "DELUXE!", this 2nd class AC sleeper had two sheets, blanket, pillow and a towel!!! I wish the trip had been longer!!!!
I arrived in Varinasi at 5 in the morning. Found me a hotel - and called it a good day - time for a shower!!!!
Okay - gotta take a break -(gotta find some train tickets out of here for tomorrow) - will tell you about the town on my next blog.
From India
Johnny
I hope to stay mostly on trains from now on - or maybe on flat land.
Another little surprise - the "tourist" bus was to take us all the way to the India border and not stop at the town before the border like all the "public" buses do. ..Well, you guessed it - we stopped at the town before, engine shut off , driver out and gone, and I then had a bicycle rickshaw ride to the border on the hot dusty road.... ( a little more "color and quaintness" than I wanted at the time!!!)
Had no problem at the Nepali border, then walked two or three hundred yards to the Indian border - no problems - then to bus station, and a 75 rupee ($1.50 ) 2-1/2 hour bus ride to train station.
At the station I was able to get a night sleeper to Varinasi at 10:45 p.m. It was 5:45 by now. I met some other travelers doing the same thing, so we all went to a local train station restaurant across the street and got supper. They only had two choices, both typical blue plate specials, but it was good and restful.
I had forgotten HOW MANY people are in India - crowds - everywhere .... and how dirty!
Got on my train about 9:30. It was an air-conditioned sleeper - "DELUXE!", this 2nd class AC sleeper had two sheets, blanket, pillow and a towel!!! I wish the trip had been longer!!!!
I arrived in Varinasi at 5 in the morning. Found me a hotel - and called it a good day - time for a shower!!!!
Okay - gotta take a break -(gotta find some train tickets out of here for tomorrow) - will tell you about the town on my next blog.
From India
Johnny
posted by Johnny at
10:11 PM
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